A woman from Coventry is on a mission to end the taboo of menstrual health in India.

Working alongside young Indian and British volunteers, Paige Harban, 21, is helping to deliver menstrual health management classes at schools and youth groups.

She and her teammates are also organising awareness days in the community, and will be training volunteers to become menstrual health champions who will continue to offer information, advice and support to young people in India after the group leaves.

Working alongside young Indian and British volunteers, Paige Harban, 21, is helping to deliver menstrual health management classes at schools and youth groups.

Paige said: “So far we have reopened a Youth Resource Centre which 70 children regularly attend, met with community members and delivered livelihood and gender equality sessions in a number of schools.

“Lots of young people in India have never had any menstrual health education as it is still a taboo topic. This means they rarely speak about this with anyone, and even when discussed they still don’t have the correct information of how and why it happens, leading to unsafe practises and health issues.

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“We are really lucky to be in Tamil Nadu for the release of the current Bollywood film Pad Man, which is about a local hero who has invented a reusable sanitary pad. We feel we are here at the perfect time to make a real difference in the community.

Working alongside young Indian and British volunteers, Paige Harban, 21, is helping to deliver menstrual health management classes at schools and youth groups.

“We are trying to connect local women’s groups with income generation projects that can help women to start their own reusable sanitary pad business.

“It’s great to know the work we’re doing is making a difference. We’re planning lots more school sessions, and some community days to make sure the message is spread as widely as possible.”

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Paige is an ICS volunteer. These work alongside young local volunteers in some of the poorest communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America on issues such as sexual health, education , women’s rights and economic empowerment – fighting poverty and creating positive, lasting change.

Paige is also living with a local host family, to fully immerse herself in the community and gain a better understanding of the challenges they face.

Working alongside young Indian and British volunteers, Paige Harban, 21, is helping to deliver menstrual health management classes at schools and youth groups.

She added: “I applied for ICS because I wanted to experience another culture and make a positive difference at the same time. It seemed like an amazing way to gain some experience of international development, which I’ve always been interested in.

“Coming to India and seeing the challenges young people face here has made me realise how important it is that countries like the UK contribute to projects that fight poverty in developing countries.

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“It’s great that ICS offers young people the chance to help and support people in other countries first-hand. I am happy to say I have made some fantastic friends who I will stay friends with for a lifetime.

Working alongside young Indian and British volunteers, Paige Harban, 21, is helping to deliver menstrual health management classes at schools and youth groups.

“I’d just like to say thank you so much to the people who have helped and supported me so far, from fundraising, donating or just wishing me good luck. I’m so lucky I’ve to have this opportunity.”

Before she left for India, Paige raised £800 for VSO, which will go towards ensuring communities in developing countries benefit from the work of future volunteers.

Felicity Morgan, director of ICS at VSO, said: “ICS volunteers like Paige are doing amazing work around the world, every day. We’re incredibly proud that UK aid is supporting young Brits bring about positive change in some of the world’s poorest communities. As an organisation working on the frontline against poverty VSO see how people across Britain play an important role in delivering UK aid; from the NHS and Army helping end the Ebola crisis, to the millions who donate, and the contribution we all make through taxes, together we are all making the world a fairer, safer place.”